Despite scoring over 300 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), more than 5,000 candidates across five academic sessions were unable to gain admission into tertiary institutions, according to findings by DIP CONNECTS ONLINE NEWS.
Data obtained from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) revealed that over 8.5 million candidates took the UTME within the review period. However, only 2.7 million were admitted, leaving 5.8 million without placement in higher institutions.
JAMB explained that even top scorers often failed to secure admission due to issues such as wrong O’level subject combinations, low post-UTME screening scores, non-acceptance of admission offers, duplicate applications, absence from screening, and catchment area mismatches.
Year-by-Year Breakdown of Admissions
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2019/2020: Out of 1,792,719 candidates, only 612,557 gained admission, leaving 1,180,162 stranded.
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2020/2021: 1,949,983 candidates sat the UTME, with just 551,553 admitted.
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2021/2022: From 1.4 million candidates, only 312,666 were admitted.
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2022/2023: 1.8 million sat the exam; 557,625 were admitted.
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2023/2024: 1,635,881 sat; 639,263 gained admission.
Calls for UTME Result Validity Extension
Education stakeholders have urged JAMB to extend the validity of UTME results to two or three years. Reform Education Nigeria Programme Director, Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, and educationist Omotomiwa Daniels noted that yearly retakes place a financial strain on families.
Minister Backs JAMB Amid 2025 CBT Glitches
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, defended JAMB's Computer-Based Testing (CBT) system, citing a human error by a service provider for the technical hitches during the 2025 UTME. He assured that the issue had been addressed and affected candidates would be rescheduled.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, had earlier apologised to candidates and parents, confirming that the problem originated from a service provider. He promised a retest for affected candidates.
Rescheduled Exams Witness Low Turnout
At several Lagos centres where the rescheduled exams held, turnout was below expectations. For example:
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Datforte International School (Ahmadiyya): 212 and 222 candidates attended the first and second sessions respectively, out of 250 expected.
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New Ocean Comprehensive High School (Ayobo): 230 candidates showed up for the first session.
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Vanilla CBT Centre (Ayobo): 223 (first session) and 227 (second session).
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Enefem International School (Ayobo): 216 and 225 candidates attended each session.
Proprietors and centre officials attributed the low turnout to short notice and late notifications, with some students learning about the exam just hours before.
One centre director in Iyana Ipaja revealed that some students arrived without proper identification or slips but were allowed in due to sympathy. “A girl came looking unkempt after rushing from home. She hadn’t even bathed,” he said.
Long Distances, Last-Minute Alerts Frustrate Students
Students and parents decried the long distances travelled and the short time to prepare. A candidate named Segun said he travelled overnight from Abuja to Lagos after getting notified on Thursday. He arrived late and missed his session.
Mrs. Akinwolere Olusola, Central Administrator of the school, attributed the mismatch to late registrations, which often result in far-off postings.
Parents, including Mrs. Ejeke Patricia, Mrs. Kuye Temidayo, and Mrs. Araba Stella, feared the sudden schedule would impact performance, especially as many students were also writing WASSCE at the time.
Some parents complained of additional stress and cost. “We had to pay ₦300 for plastic chairs to sit under the sun,” one lamented.
Exams Smooth in Anambra, Imo
In contrast, exams in Anambra and Imo states went smoothly. Centres like St. Patrick’s College ICT Centre, JAMB ICT Centre, and St. John of God ICT Centre in Awka had tight security and proper biometric screening.
Some candidates who failed verification were asked to reprint slips and return later. Uchenna Akachukwu, a parent in Awka, praised JAMB officials for their professionalism and called for the lapses to be permanently addressed.
ADEOLA KUNLE
